Collar stiffener



May 11, 1943. F. A. KAPLAN COLLAR STIFFENER Filed May 19, 1941 I INVENTOR Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in collar stifieners.

The invention proposes a stiffener which is characterized by a pair of stiff strip members for insertion in pockets on the back faces of the points of a collar, anda novel provision of chain connected with said strip members in a certain way. An arrangement is proposed when the shirt is taken off so as to prevent the wearer forgetting the stiffeners on a discarded shirt the collar button of the shirt to remind the wearer of the stiffener strips when the button is unbuttoned while removing the shirt and take up any exposed slack.

Still further the invention contemplates a novel arrangement by which the strip members may be adapted to the points of collars in which the points are of different lengths.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be menu factured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description.

and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a shirt provided with collar stiffeners con-" structed in accordance, with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the collar stiffeners, illustrated per se.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, but with the tie removed to illustrate the association between the stiffeners and the collar button.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modification of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. r

Fig. 6 is still another elevational view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a still further modifi cation of the invention.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 6, but illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a still further modified form of stiffener.

Fig. 10 shows the position the parts of the stiffener shown in Fig. 9 take when inserted into a collar pocket.

The collar stiffener, in accordance with this invention is particularly intended to be'used upon a shirt l0 having the-usual soft collar II with the usual small pockets l2 mounted upon or constructed on the back faces of the points of the collar adjacent the edges thereof. The collar stiffener, in accordance with this invention,

comprises stiff strip members 13 for insertion into the pockets l2. A chain M has its ends attached to the top ends of said strip members [3.

The strip members l3 are preferably constructed of sheet Celluloid, metal or any other suitable material. Each strip member [-3 has its bottom end preferably formed with a pointed portion l3 adapted to engage across the points of the collar for assisting in holding these parts in a natural way. These ends however may be round. or any other shape.

The chain l4, intermediate of its ends, is provided with an arcuate shaped member I5. This member I5 is formed of metal or any other material and is adapted to be engaged over the collar button of the shirt as shown in Fig. 3,

to remind the person wearing the shirt to remove the stiffener-s when unbuttoning the shirt before the shirt is sent to the laundry and take one end of the auxiliary member l6, forming a short end Hi and a long end IS Means is provided for holding the auxiliary member [6 with either its short end or its long end extended beyond the bottom end of the strip member l3. This means comprises a pair of spaced projections l8 formed on opposite sides of the rivet l1 and in the auxiliary member I6. The strip member I3 is formed with a complementary recess l9 into which the projections are adapted to be selectively engaged as the auxiliary member I 6 is turned relative to the strip member l3.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a still further modified form of the invention has been disclosed which is characterized by a strip member 23 of Celluloid or other similar material. This strip member 23 has an enlarged head 23 which engages between the arms of an inverted U-shaped bracket 24. This U-shaped bracket 24 is formed of material which is U-shaped in cross section and has its arms engaging the front and back faces of the strip member 23.

A chain 26 connects the U-shaped brackets 24 together, and this chain is provided with an arcuately shaped member 21 intermediate of its ends for engagement over the collar button of a shirt.

Means is provided for holding the strip members 23 in various extended positions with relation to their U-shaped brackets 24 for controlling the operative lengths of the collar stiffeners. To accomplish this each ofthe heads 23 of the strip members 23 isformed at its sides with outwardly extending projections 28. These projections 28 are selectively engageable with one of a plurality of like recesses 29 formed in the U-shaped brackets 24. Thus, by slightly spreading the arms of the brackets 24 the projections 28 and recesses 29 will be disengaged permitting the strip members 23 to be moved relative to the U-shaped brackets to change the overall length of the stiffeners.

In Fig. 8 a stiffener is shown which is similar to that shown in Fig, 6 except that the ends of the chain 26 are passed through openings formed in the top ends of the U-shaped brackets 24 and are attached to the top ends of the strip members 23. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to that disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7 and like reference characters are used to identify like parts in each of the several views.

In Figs. 9 and a still further modified form of collar stifiener is disclosed which is characterized by a strip member 33 of triangular formation. This strip member 33 is formed from a length of wire and has its short arm pivotally extended through a passageway 34 of a connector 35. The top end of the connector 35, which is formed of metal, is provided with a second passageway 35. A top link 31 of triangular formation has its bottom arm passing through the passageway 36. The apexes of the free arms of the top links of the stiife'ners 31 are connected together by means of a chain 38 which has an arcuately shaped member 39 intermediate of its ends. i

When the stiffener is being used as shown in Fig. 10, the strip member 33 is inserted into the pocket 40 formed on the back face of the point of the collar 4|, with the connector bent to extend right angularly across the top edge of the material forming the pocket. The top link is bent to extend vertically downwards along the outside face of the pocket.

It is to be understood that this device may also be used in removable collars, or wherever it may be used to advantage and the connecting member [4 may be made of any material in the form of chain links, single or multi strips, etc. The

stiffening member may be made of Celluloid, composition, metal or of any other suitable material.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a collar stiffener having a pair of stiff strip members for insertion in pockets on the back faces of the points of a collar, a chain having its ends attached to the top ends of said strip members, each of said strip members comprising a plurality of strips of stiff material, and means for holding said strips in extended and retracted positions, one of said strips being in the form of an inverted U-shaped bracket into which the other of said strips is slidably mounted.

2. In a collar stifiener having a pair of stiff strip members for insertion in pockets on the back faces of the points of a collar, a chain having its ends attached to the top ends of said strip members, each of said strip members comprising a plurality of strips of stiff material, and means for holding said strips in extended and retracted positions, one of said strips being in the form of an inverted U-shaped bracket into which the other of said strips is slidably mounted, said chain being connected to said U-shaped bracket.

3. In a collar stiffener having a pair of stiff strip members for insertion in pockets on the back faces of the points of a collar, a chain having its ends attached to the top ends of said strip members, each of said strip members comprising a plurality of strips of stiff material, and means for holding said strips in extended and retracted positions, one of said strips being in the form of an inverted U-shaped bracket into which the other of said strips is slidably mounted, said chain being connected to the top end of the strip which engages said U-shaped bracket.

4. In a collar stiffener having a pair of stiff strip members for insertion in pockets on the back faces of the points of a collar, a chain having its ends attached to the top ends of said strip members, each of said strip members comprising a plurality of strips of stifl" material, and means for holding said strips in extended and retracted positions, one of said strips being in the form of an inverted U-shaped bracket into which the other of said strips is slidably mounted, said inverted U-shaped brackets being formed of material U'- shaped in cross-section to engage over the side edges of the strips and slidably support the same, and means for holding each of said latter strips in various extended positions relative to their respective U-shaped brackets. v

5. In a collar stiffener having a pair of stiff strip members for insertion in pockets on the back faces of the points of a collar, a chain having its ends attached to the top ends of said strip members, each of said strip members comprising a plurality of strips of stiff material, and means for holding said strips in extended and retracted positions, one of said strips being in the form of an inverted U-shaped bracket into which the other of said strips is slidably mounted, said inverted U-shaped brackets being formed of material U-shaped in cross-section to engage over the side edges of the strips and slidably support the ing its ends attached to the top ends of said strip members, each of said strip members comprising a plurality of strips of stifl material, and means for holding said strips in extended and retracted positions, one of said strips being in the form of an inverted U-shaped bracket into which the other of said strips is slidably mounted, and means preventing said latter strips from being completely disengaged from the open end of 10 said inverted U-shaped brackets.

FELIX A. KAPLAN. 

